"The Emancipation of Miss Serena."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13602, 23 May 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

"The Emancipation of Miss Serena."

Miss Serena Bradford, sit ting «» thoughtful perplexity before the pretty rcsewood d*sfc in her sunshiny den. an tinaccustomed frown puckering the forehead still smooth and white as a girl's, despite tn*» coronet of silvery hair which added a touch-of distinction to the erect littUtigure. looked tentatively up at the portrait which hung just abuve. Should eh* r The portrait stared hack in dignnVd disapproval and Xli*i> Serena Iwsitated. Invite an artist, a mere painting man. t<» her house? It was against M tFie traditional, earlv Victorian idea* with which her youth had" been imbued. Hitherto during Mi&t Arena's narrow. welt-ordered life. never had she dreamed of questioning tinpropriety of those Ideas. Yet Eleanor. " Edaneor. wayward, tensing, lovable Eleanor, whose arrival fluttering the innocent household had brought it to a new element at once disturbing and inspiring, a sense of wider possibilities, of more vivid perceptions. Eleanor cared for this man. Indeed, it. was because of her caring that the girl had been sent to Motv Serena now. her people* hoping that perhaps the change of scene might effect a cure. Bat what complicated matters* was that Lyttelton himself was also here. Only yesterday Eleanor had come to her aunt and told ber that tie had taken a studio up town. " I did not know that Bert was intending to live in New York." the girl bad said, loyal gray eyes gazing straight into Miss Serena's blue ones. "It was last summer at the I'agts' that I met him. Hi.« home is irt the West. Of course I shall not try to eee him. But if I should and for a second her clear eye* dropped, then she lifted them again. " I certainly cannot promise that I will not speak." shs v ended honestly. Her annt's heart gave a throb of sympathy. " Do you-—do yon care so much, then?" ehe questioned timidly. ''Carer Hashed the girl back. But. meeting Miss. Serena's tender, wondering gaze, th* brave little- mouth quavered. *• Yes." she- said simply. " I care." And now in the morning's mail had come a note leaving vacant a mans place for next, week's dinner, and Miss Serena. the memory of that wistful quiver strong upon her, was thrilled to a daring Impulse. Why not ask this Lyttelton and judge for herself? Her opinion carried great weight with the girl's people. Was it not indeed her duty to invite him? And. all the while, under these reasons, with which she sought to convince herself, de-ep down in the gentle heart glowed, newly stirred. the old primitive, unquenchable flame of desire for romance, color, passion, the instinct which leads* at! mankind to love a lover and to help him; and, deeper, obscurer, yet. the vivid curicsity of the lonely woman to whom the priceless revelation has- been denied. Mies- Serena took a sheet of paper, wrote her letter, ■stamped it, and sent it offv befnre she could change her mind.

The <f*«(t was accomplished, reaction ret in, and for a wtefc Miss Serena shivered at the thought of the awfnl thing she* had done-. Bat -when, on the night of the dinner. Eleanor, straight ant! »*hn in her •white frock, a green wreath set among the masses of her bronze hair, entered the fragrant. Sower filled drawing room. Miss Serena all at once felt herself justified. Manifestly it wa* bat the child's due. Miss Serena, clad herself in a dainty brocade, her soft cheeks pink with suppressed eagerness onder the: girl's quick little- kiss, was fairly a-quiver with excitement. What would h«y he like?

The guests* were arriving. They were mostly elderly married eonptes, friends* of Miss Serena's; Eleanor, gracious and smiling, moved among them, striving dttttfnlly to t>e entertaining. Suddenly the sound of a name caused fv>r to start. Could j>ht» have? heard aright! Ms*.* Serena**'voice summoned her.

" Eleanor, my dear. £ have just been luffing Mr. "LytcJ-lum ti»t\T'gtwi.'l tie" was to come to «.« thus informally." h*T annt was saying.

Tn-:» girl, flushed ami eonfnsed. came forward, looking from her annt to the man. Mrs Svrena smiled.

'•You know Mr. Lyttetton. I think." she said, gently, were odions. wasr her reflection: she had not realised how hard it woutd be for the girl Eleanor, murmurim? something inaudible, held oot a hand, which the man took, awkwardly enough. Miss Serena, watching, felt heir compunction deepen. "He i» embarrassed too. And quite natural." she thought, benevolently surveying the long. lean figure clad "in illfitting evening clothes. A red carnation decorated the Tapel of his coat. Miss Serena* put down her torgnette with a sigh.

" Curious-looking person. Brasses like an iwtfrrt. I suppose. On* 1 eonld hardly bo surprised that Eleanor's people are not pleased. Well. I mast try and discover wherein his attraction for her tie>;. Eleanor, why. win re i* Eleanor?" noting tfw girl's du»appean.inee>. Bat Eh'anor. fe.?r eyes brilliant, her lip.» parted, had air.'ady slipped back into the room, and rb> next moment the butler had tlang f>.tck Ihe portieres.

The taw.-*, of crnrtrsy demanded it. and for som* time Miss Serena listened patiently to the great—but dull—scientist seated at her right hand. It wn> for him that the dinner wan given. Bttt tur thoughts w«-re- ail with tlr- man whom sdie had contrived to place on hor left. He sat there quietly ga/ing about him in evident admiration, making no attempt to converse with the woman whom he- had taken out. Mi--s Serena felt rather discouraged. He might be a rising artist, but be w;:.s. to her. an entirely ri-i'w typ>>. How ennld rdie- effect a sympathy re.'ation wir*t him. find the real man; on what common ground, could they meet'f Yet for EteannrV. sake she must try. Sh u turned' to bin* with her kindliest umile.

'* I see that yen are watching Mli.«? Hull." she bj'gan" "bur I want to trdkro you myself this evening." The inaa smiled back. "I am mighty glad to get the chanco to talk to you." tv answered. -mr.Tefy. and his voice had a pleasant ring that suited Miss Seren.iV. i\ir. "You see." indicating the glittering, pink-shaded table, the multiplicity rf forks, ''thw «ort of thing is "kind of new to me. But I think it r s great." he added, with a whimsical appreciation of his own franknes.-. MLs.«* Serena looked at him with more approval. She liked honesty and candor. Bnt what was she to talk a bom ?

" How do yon find the- United Workera?" she- asked at n, ventnre. mentioningthe fine, newly completed building where? Lyttleton had taken his studio-. " I nnd*>rstand that you have jn.-t come- there."

Xever had Miss. Serena so enjoyed herself. For years her principal interest had bwn the United Workers. Time, money, and thought had been lavishly poured upon it. and the- success wrested fi-mn adversity ffa» to her a personal, dt-ar triumph! And here at, Inst tra* wm; 1 one to -whom the subject wa* equally familiar; who kn*»w in?v branches and ramitication in other cities: here was sympathy, co-operation. Miss Serena's eyrs shone. her pretty color grew pinker with excitement. And there had been people likethis in the- world alt the- time- and is be- had never known it! Then as* her glance- met Eleanor*, she smiled. Who would nave given th** child credit for finch an intelligent choice? The- girt, yet with rath.r a worried expression, returned tin- smitf. and Miss:. Serena laughed to herself. "She does not know how well w-> are getting on -" reflected the aunt, fondly. "Poor child. I can se«-- what a hint tini-' •she bacs had. But. after alt. the> only objectlons to him are hie: n».t Ik-tunging tr> their special «-t. and h'us lack of wealth. The firsrt, perhaps-, ist not so important, after all, and as for the- second—might not 1 " Dinner over. she. drew Fteanor into theden for a moment.

{ ".Dear. I like your Mr. Lyttelton so much." she whispered. "He was asked as a surprise for you. but. I am the- one to be- delighted. \'o; wv have not time to discuss it. now." As the- girl endeavored to speak. •"But later wv will, and posjtiblv I can find some way ta help you both"— tenderly. Tho girl, deeply moved, caught the little hand. "Auntie—dearest." she said, "how good yon are I But listen."—hurriedly—"you There was a slight stir without the d'.or. Th<" butter appeared again, linn stood a*ii«b- to admit a. tail. impatient voting man. Eleanor (sprang forward. " Bert!" s-be cried, softly. "Oh. Bert!' '"Eleanor!" responded the young man. rapturously, eager gladness apparent in everv line of the dark, handsome fact-. " Eleanor !" And for a moment tb«y there, oblivions, enchanted, swept Iwyoml Mt-.s Serena and ail tlte worlii. Eleanor. «•»-, manlike recovered herself first. " Auntie." she said, with a shy pride overflowing her happy eyes. " this is Bert, my Jtert. I saw there had been >ome nif.stake-, so I sent him word to come at once." j explaining, a* Miss Serena only stared blankly.: "This is my Mr. Lyttelton. " But then- who'" gapped Mi>i-» Selena, helplessly. " Yours—l don't under- j stand "

"Nor J. Tlvere must be some mistake." repeated the girl. Miss Serena, her hands shaking piteonsty. snatched a letter from her desk, and held it out.

"Read it," she managed, "read it—yes. it's typewritten," as the girl uttered an amazing sound. " But read it—see if it means anything to you."

"Dear Madam," began Eleanor, obediently. " Yours of the fourteenth just received and I write to say that I will be happy to accept informal invitation for dinner on Tuesday, twenty-eighth inst.. at eipht o'clock.

"" Yours tnilv. W. A*. LYTTELTON*. The teller w;is written on United Workers paper, the envelope was addressed plainly to Miss Serena Bradford. Hrr, straight young brows drawn clr.se. the newcomer scrutinized the signature. "It's most extraordinary," he commented perplezedly. "Yon say your note was directed to Mr. Lyttelton,. carp the Linked Workers. Did yon— —" He paused as the man with the red carnation appeared in the doorway. The man hatted a moment, then stepped quickly forward.

"Why. Mr. Lyttelton," exclaimed the man. " Yon here! Why " A sense of something wrong made him glance hastily from one perturbed countenance to the other. Then, as his eyes fell upon the open letter, the, vague doubts which all the evening had been mistily hovering on the brink of his consciousness, crystallized into certainty. He flung out a protecting hand.

"You here?" he repeated. "Then wasn't that invitation for me after all? I sort of misdoubted from tlie first it couldn't be. But Jhn Halliday told me that Xew York folks were so hospitable." a sudden wistful entreaty trembling beneath the spoken word. Had it all been a mistake then? Was this wonderful glimpse into another world only a cheat—a bit of experience to which he personally had no right ? The tall young man. whose keen regard had been gradually clearing, interposed. "Why. I know you." he said, impulsive ty. "1 have seen yon at the L'nited Workers building." his somewhat- stern voting face irradiated by a friendly flash of white teeth, "haven't"l?" "Sure. I am William Lyttelton. the new secretary." was the steady response. " J got the place two weeks ago, jnst after yoa came. But it was my name too. —I never thought." H» voice was grave "Didn't you know?" ho demanded, taming' swiftly upon Miss Serena. " You seemed to. Didn't von?"

For one terrible mrment Miss Serena hesitated. Be kind to such a person. yes; send him a sheqne in the morning. by all means. But receive him socially. : present him to her friends I Her formsr. intrepidity shrank to mere commonplace. ins* before what this* implied. Instinctively she glanced up at the portrait, the very embodiment of ancient lineage and pride of race. Offend that? And this time deliberately, irremediably. Miss Serena cooght her breath, overwhelmed for a moment with doubt.

Then, as her gaze encountered the two troubled eyes fixed upon her own. across the inherent womanliness of her nature swept a revulsion of feeling that shook the inmost centres of her soul. Here was a man. simple, sincere, shrewd, even if not cultured in the worldly sense and-her guest Offend hem t MaeA Serena tlung up her head with a generous scorn. The seed of revolt planted a week ago. quickened by interest, guarded by expanding sympathies.' now at this cmicial instant burgeoned forth into broad triumphant b!<iom. " Xo: there has been no mistake." she said, and her voice rang out clear and sweet as she bid her hand upon this man's arm. "My invitation reached the right person And there will have to be many more dinners before we can cuccessfullv carry out all the plats, which we have concocted to-night. Eleanor, my dear." far a moment her kindly look resting upon the two breathless voting people, "do not stay here too long with—Bert. Xow Mr. Lyttelton. will yon kindly take me back to my guests.?"